Fruit-carton.



L. A. MLLLER.

FRUIT'CARTQN. APPLICATION ElLE D FEB. 29. 1946.

. Patented May 7, 1918;

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- L. A MILLER.

FRUIT CARTON.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 29. IQIG 1,265,475, Patented May 7,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I-a ,ooooo FVJ Snventor witness q l made from a single blank.

. vice as seen 1rd one a:

' LOUIS A. MILLER, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB T0 SCHIVIID'J. LITHOGRAIH COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-CARTON.

memes.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. MILLER, citizen of the United States, residing at Fresno,

in the county of Fresno and State of Cali .the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cartons for packing fruit and the object is to provide a ventilated receptacle of-neW construction which may be formed of paper or straw board and A further object is to provide a receptacle which may be shipped in a knock down condition, the blanks being fiat, or with certain of the sides folded flat with the bottom.

A further object is .to provide a receptacle having a top which may be supplied with a device constituting a cover, or if preferred a device constituting a handle, the cover being adapted to close the top prior to wrapping and tying, and the handle when employed in the modified form aiding in retaining the fruit in position while the carton is being turned right side up after being acked from the bottom. t

A st ll further object is to provide adjustable means forfastening at the bottom certain of'the ends of the blank and to arrange for the ventilation of the receptacle from the bottom as well. as the sides, the degree of ventilation atthe bottom depending upon the position of the adjustable end portions when connected to form a portion. of the bottom.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the defrom the lower side, before the ends and sides of the blank have been secured.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank, showing a handle 15 extending across the opening in the central portion in lieu of the cover 14 illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom lan view of the carton with the ends secure and showing the registering ventilating apertures.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing adouble cover.

The device, as above stated, may be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '3, 1918.

Application filed February 29, 1916. Serial No. 31,192.

formed from a single blank, the wings and flaps being cut as shown in Fig. 2. The

central portion of .the blank constitutes the top of the carton and is provided wlth an opening which can b closed when desired by cover 14; This cover may form an integral portion of the blankv and may be turned'to an upright position when the fruit is on sale, advertising matter being carried by the lower side of the cover if desired. Prior to wrapping the package for delivery to a customer, the cover is closed and there is then no danger that the fruit will become bruised while being carried, thereby dama ing the fruit and probably soiling the clot ing of the customer.

While the blank as a whole may be square or rectan ular, for convenience, the portions 16 and 1 which overlap at the bottom of the device will be termed ends, while portions 18 and 19 extendingvat right angles to portions 16 and 17 will be termed sides.

The end portions are scored along lines 20 and 21 and the side portions are scored along lines 22 and 23. Projecting from these side portions are members 24 and 25 which assume the position shown in Fig. 1 during the operation of folding the blank, and then constitute a portion of the bottom.

Extending laterally from portions 24 and 25 are wings 26 and 27 which are connected with the main blank along scored portions 28 and 29, and these wings overlap to form portions of the ends of the carton, which 7 when completed has three thicknesses, the

other thicknesses being formed of walls 30 and 31 of the end portions. Slots 32 and 33 are provided in wing 26, and wing 27 is provided with tongues 34 engaging the slots.

Such provision as may be desirable is made for ventilating the receptacle, but in the drawing I have shown two ventilated side walls and a bottom provided with ventilating means. side walls are designated 36 and inthe end portion 16 the perforations are indicated by 37, while in end portion 17 they are marked 38. Portion 16 is provided with tongues 39 and portion 17 with slots 40 and these are connected in the final operation of folding the blank after the fruit has been placed in the-carton. As will be inferred, the bottom is not secured until all of the fruit intended for a single receptacle has been packed The perforations in the l therein, at which time end portions 16 and 17 are brought together and secured by means of fastening devices 39 and 40. Slots 40 are of sufficient length to ermit a cer tain amount of adjustment an to allow the ends of the device to bulge slightly when the fruit settles to position. In the position shown in Fig. 3 the apertures in the end portions register, but they do not accurately register when the tongues 39 move slightly in slots 40. By this means the degree of ventilation may be regulated to a given extent.

In Fig. 1 it will be observed that the perforated sides of the receptacle are in osition and also the bottom portions 24 an 25. Portions 26 and 27 have not been secured, but may be secured, and usually are, before the device is filled. Upon the completion of the filling. operation the end portions 16 and 17 are secured as above described.

The handle 15 illustrated in Fig. 2 may be used instead of the cover 14 and when so employed it serves an important purpose in lar function when the carton is being handled subsequently.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 the top of thecarton is closed by two covers 10 and 11 which may meet along a central line.

What I claim is:

A display carton comprising an apertured central top for displaying the frult or contents, folding flaps cooperative to form the sides and ends of the box, inner bottom members forming between their edges a space, and outside bottom flaps having longitudinal rows of vent apertures and adapted to be laid over the inner members, the vents disposed to register with the space between the inner members, said outer flaps having respective interlocking means, permitting relative longitudinal. adjustment thereof for varying the area of the vent opening when said flaps are laid in overlapping positions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS A. MILLER. 

